Door arrangement for tensioned membrane structure

ABSTRACT

There is provided an opening assembly for an extended end of a stressed membrane structure having a fixed part, said opening assembly comprising: at least a part of said end separated from said fixed part and moveable relative to said fixed part; a pivot assembly for permitting movement of said at least a part of said extended end between an open and a closed position relative to said structure; a support frame for maintaining the integrity of said part in stressed membrane condition at all times during said movement and when in said open and closed position; rolling transport means for supporting said frame and said assembly during said movement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This application relates to stressed membrane structures and toopening or door assemblies for such enclosures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Stressed membrane structures have been in use for many years and,in many situations, offer advantages over conventional structures. Onearea where such structures are very attractive is for use as aircrafthangars.

[0003] In order to function effectively as aircraft hangars, it isnecessary that wide opening doors be provided for ingress and egress ofaircraft.

[0004] There has been an ongoing need for doors which will meet thisobjective of wide opening doors for hangers and many other applicationswithin the structural limitations of stressed membrane structures. It ispreferable that such doors retain the relocatability which has been thehallmark of tensioned membrane structures, while meeting structuralcriteria such as wind resistance.

[0005] The present invention arises against this background.

PRIOR ART

[0006] Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,993 illustrates a doorarrangement for tensioned membrane structures.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides an opening or a door arrangementwhereby an end of a stressed membrane structure can be partly or fullyopened while maintaining a tensioned condition of the membrane of theopened part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially cut away, of a stressed membranestructure, showing an airplane in ghost lines;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 with an openingassembly in an open position;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the structure of claim 1 with the openingassembly in a partially opened condition;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the opening assembly of FIG. 1with the tensioned membrane removed;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a support frame for theopening assembly;

[0014]FIG. 6 illustrates detail of bracing for a part of the supportframe of FIG. 5;

[0015]FIG. 7 is an elevation of a pivot assembly for the openingassembly;

[0016]FIG. 8 is a plan view of the pivot assembly of FIG. 7;

[0017]FIG. 9 illustrates an inner tie-down for securing the openingassembly;

[0018]FIG. 10 illustrates an outer tie-down for securing the openingassembly;

[0019]FIG. 11 illustrates a closure lock plate for securing a pair ofopening assemblies in a closed position;

[0020]FIG. 12 illustrates the closure plate of FIG. 11 in a partiallyopened position;

[0021]FIG. 13 is a plan view of a skid plate and alignment pipes foraligning a pair of opening assemblies during closing; and

[0022]FIG. 14 is an elevation of the skid plate and alignment pipes ofFIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Stressed membrane structure 10 comprises a framework includingstructural members 12 which support tensioned membrane 14.

[0024] Various bracing arrangements, such as cable bracing 16, may beutilized where required in structure 10.

[0025] Structure 10 may be provided with doors such as personnel doors18 and sliding door 20. Various other features, such as skylight 22, maybe included.

[0026] Structure 10 will generally have a substantially semi-circularend 34, and it is desirable that at least a part of end 34 can be openedto allow access to the structure for large objects. Thus end 34 isdivided into two end parts 24 and 26. In the preferred case, both endparts 24 and 26 are rotatable so that the entire end 34 of structure 10can be opened to the full width of the structure 10. For this purpose,end parts 24 and 26 are pivotally associated with but separated fromstructure 10 by pivot assemblies 28 and 30.

[0027] Stressed membrane structures normally have rounded or arcuateends or ends which extend outwardly of the plane across the end of thenormal full width of the structure. While this is not always true forthese structures, the present invention is applicable to those which dohave at least one such end.

[0028] The rounded or arcuate end part has a number of advantages whichinclude the ability to stress the membrane continuously around thestructure without substantial special attention to the end treatment. Aswell, such end structures contribute to the very important ability ofthe structure to withstand wind and associated environmental effects.

[0029] It is possible that other shapes might be used but all suchprotruding or extended ends are considered to be under the generalheading of extended ends. Such extended shapes are to be contrastedspecifically with a normal flat door configuration.

[0030] In guiding the opening and closing of end parts 24 and 26, pivotassemblies 28 and 30 are preferably positioning and guiding pivots onlyand are not intended to support any part of the weight of the associatedend part.

[0031]FIG. 3 illustrates the positioning of the main frame members 36that would normally be a part of an end 34 of a structure 10.

[0032] The door arrangement of the present invention preferably providesa support structure 38 associated with each structural member 36. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the support structure 38 comprises horizontalbeam 40, vertical beam 42 and diagonal beams 44 and 46.

[0033] Each support structure 38 is preferably provided with transportmembers which may be in the form of rollers which are preferably wheelassemblies and preferably at least two wheel assemblies 48 and 50 foreach horizontal beam 40.

[0034] It is the combination of the support structures 38 and wheels 48and 50 which support the weight of end parts 24 and 26 in opening andclosing the end parts. Pivot assemblies 28 and 30 are non-weightbearing.

[0035]FIG. 5 illustrates an essentially complete frame for each of endparts 24 and 26. This consists of the normal structural members 36 ofstructure 10 and, as well, usual structural members 52, extendingbetween structural members 36.

[0036] In addition, FIG. 5 illustrates transverse bracing arrangements54 between vertical beams 42 and shown consisting of horizontal members56 and diagonal structure 58. Diagonals 58 may comprise cables and thecables may be adjustable in tension.

[0037] End parts 24 and 26 are thus each self-supporting structures andeach maintains its membrane in a stressed condition at all times.

[0038] It is noted that bracing structure is required to providerigidity and tension to the end parts 24 and 26, and variations on thesupport structure are therefore permissible so long as those criteriaare maintained. Thus the bracing structure may vary for differentenvironments.

[0039]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate details of pivot assemblies 28, 30. Pivotpost 60 comprises pipe 62 which passes through the structure's concretepad 64 and is embedded in concrete pile 66. Pipe 62 may be filled withconcrete 68.

[0040] Brackets 74 and 76 are fixed to structure member 36. Each bracketincludes a cylindrical sleeve 78.

[0041] In assemblies structure 10, the sleeves 78 are slid over post 60to form the pivot.

[0042] Each horizontal structural beam 40 is provided with wheelassemblies 48 and 50. The wheel assemblies support the weight of the endparts so that the pivot assemblies do not carry the weight of the endparts. Additional wheel assemblies may be used if required.

[0043] Connecting and/or sealing means (not shown) are preferablyprovided between beams 39 and 41 in the closed position and betweenbeams 37 and 43 and beam 45 main part 32 of structure 10 when the endparts are in the closed position.

[0044] In order to actually activate opening or closing of theassemblies 24 and 26 around pivot assemblies 28 and 30, tow-barattachments are provided at the bases 80 and 82 of the central arches 39and 41, which are the arches which will be adjacent when the door is inthe closed position. An aircraft tug or other small motorized vehiclemay then be used to open and close the assemblies.

[0045] As well, an integral drive arrangement (not shown) may be mountedon the opening assemblies for opening and closing parts 24 and 26.

[0046]FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate alignment pipe and skid plateassemblies 84 and 85. The assemblies are mounted at selected locationsbetween the arches 39 and 41, which are located adjacent each other whenthe opening assemblies are in the closed position, and also between theend rib 45 of the stationary part of the stressed membrane structure andthe adjacent ribs 37 and 43 of the opening assemblies when in the closedposition.

[0047] Assemblies 84 and 85 comprise skid plates 86 and 88 andrespective pairs of alignment pipes 90 and 92. As the opening assemblyis moved into the closed position, the camming angles 94 on pairs ofpipes 90 and 92 ride alone skid plates 86 and 88 to align the adjacentbeams.

[0048] The effect of the alignment is to transfer some of the load fromthe rolling sections of the assemblies to the overall structure to thusprovide greater structural stability of the system. The skid plates alsoprovide some friction between the opening assemblies and the stressedmembrane structure to further facilitate load transfer from the openingassembly to the stationary structure.

[0049]FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a lock plate assembly 96 for holdingdoors in a locked position. The assembly 96 comprises fixed plates 98and 100 from which project pins 102 and 104. Lock plate 106 rotates onpin 104. Lock plate 106 includes camming surface 108 which, duringclosing of the assemblies, rides up and over pin 102. Recess 110 at theend of surface 108 then drops over pin 102 to lock the assemblies in theclosed position.

[0050] Parts 24 and 26 are preferably additionally stabilized in theopen and closed positions by the use of conventional aircraft tie-downsystems.

[0051]FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate inner and outer tie-down assemblies 112and 114 respectively. Tie-down assemblies 112 and 114 include earthanchors 116 and 118 implanted below surface 119. Cables 120 and 122project from earth anchors 116 and 118 above surface 119. The openingassemblies are provided with brackets 124 and 126 to correspond inpositioning with projecting cables 120 and 122 respectively. When theopening assemblies are in position and ready for tie down in either theopen or the closed position, load binders 128 or 130 are installedbetween the brackets and the projecting cable ends.

[0052] The inner tie-down is intended for installation on interior beammembers while the outer tie-down is intended for installation on theouter arches.

[0053] Clearly, the tie-downs will vary in size, type, location, andquantity depending on door size and environmental conditions. In short,any kind of tie-down may be used depending on circumstances.

[0054] Suitable flashing will be installed along the line where the twohalves of the opening assembly meet in the closed position and along theline between the two parts of the opening assembly and the stationarystructure in the closed position.

What is claimed is:
 1. An opening assembly for an extended end of astressed membrane structure having a fixed part, said opening assemblycomprising: at least a part of said end separated from said fixed partand moveable relative to said fixed part; a pivot assembly forpermitting movement of said at least a part of said extended end betweenan open and a closed position relative to said structure; a supportframe for maintaining the integrity of said part in stressed membranecondition at all times during said movement and when in said open andclosed position; and rolling transport means for supporting said frameand said assembly during said movement.
 2. The opening assembly of claim1 wherein said extended end is generally of arcuate outer plan.
 3. Theopening assembly of claim 2 wherein said assembly comprises two parts,each of which includes one said pivot assembly.
 4. The opening assemblyof claim 1 wherein said pivot assembly is independent of said fixed partof said structure.
 5. The opening assembly of claim 4 wherein said pivotassembly comprises a first part anchored beneath the surface upon whichthe structure rests and a second part fixed to said at least a part ofsaid end.
 6. The opening assembly of claim 5 wherein said first partcomprises a post and said second part comprises at least one collar forengagement around said post.
 7. The opening assembly of claim 1 whereinsaid transport means comprises a group of wheels mounted on said frame.8. The opening assembly of claim 1 including alignment means foraligning said at least one part of said end with said fixed part of saidstructure when said assembly is moved from said open to said closedposition.
 9. The opening assembly of claim 3 including alignment meansfor aligning said two parts with each other and with said fixed partwhen said two parts are moved from said open to said closed position.10. The opening assembly of claim 1 wherein said support frame is inpart comprised of adjustable cables whereby said frame is adjustable.